A letter from resident groups of the inner west

Originally published in The Westsider: A letter from resident groups of the inner west – The inner west does not need or want the West Gate Tunnel project (May 2018)
It’s been widely claimed by the government and the press that the west supports the West Gate Tunnel Project. This is not accurate. A small section of one suburb, and one action group support it and even they have serious reservations about it. The rest do not. Community members of the Community Liaison Group made clear to Western Distributor Authority in December 2017 that considerable unresolved issues remained in the project. The City of Melbourne is opposed to the project and the City of Hobsons Bay has flipped flopped over the issues in the face of staunch opposition from its residents. Academics have published a highly critical report and significant professional planning groups have written to government with their concerns about governance and design.
But still the government has continued to proceed and get signed agreements with TransUrban, pushed through gazetting of planning scheme amendments and commenced construction in the knowledge that the community do not support it and the Legislative Council has the numbers to revoke approvals and halt work. The government has used paid advertisements from big companies and the website and press releases of one community organisation to justify it in the Parliament. This is brinkmanship, not good governance.
West Gate Tunnel EES released for public comment

Thirty days, yes, thirty short days to respond to 10,000 pages of the West Gate Tunnel Environmental Effects Statement!
From Colleen Hartland, MP: thetollroadwontwork.org.au
The West Gate Tunnel Environmental Effects Statement was released on 29 May 2017, and the government is giving the community until 10 July to respond. There are literally thousands of pages of documents, and we are working hard to summarise these for you!
It’s really important that the community has their say on this toll road which will have a dramatic impact on our neighbourhood. You don’t need to be an expert and it doesn’t have to be long. We’ll be putting the summarised documents up on the site soon.
West Gate Tunnel Project information, submissions & EES
West Gate Tunnel Environmental Effects Statement
West Gate Tunnel Project Inquiry and Advisory Committee
WestConnex work puts public at risk in St Peters
When you believe you’re seen enough rank stupidity, here’s an amazingly idiotic example of rank stupidity courtesy of WestConnex which places the public at risk in Sydney.
- East West Link debate reignited on anniversary of contract being torn up - 3AW Breakfast with Ross ... April 15, 2021The Victorian Transport Association says it wants to see the road built. Chief Executive Peter Anderson explained why on 3AW Breakfast.
- East West Link debate reignited on anniversary of contract being torn up - 3AW - Flipboard April 14, 20213aw.com.au - The East West Link debate has been reignited on the sixth anniversary of the Andrews government tearing up the contract. The Victorian ...
- 'Who says no to a free road?': Victorian opposition renews East West Link push - Flipboard April 14, 2021abc.net.au - The Victorian opposition will take a pledge to build the contentious East West Link to the next state election, despite the project being ...
- Victorian opposition renews East West Link push ahead of next state election April 14, 2021The East West Link is a proposed tunnel from the end of the Eastern Freeway in Clifton Hill to CityLink in Parkville. On the sixth anniversary of the project ...
- I made my own version of East West Link with legos and toys : KGATLW April 14, 202155.7k members in the KGATLW community. A place for all discussions and sharing of things about the Australian Psychedelic band King Gizzard and ...
- Kex Gill: Half-a-million pound to offset 'irreversible' damage of new road between Harrogate and ... April 14, 2021... the landscape and wildlife was acknowledged, but extensive planning had not found a better way to re-route the road which is a key east-west link.
- Tim Smith: Andrews government's obstinence on East West Link borders on the pathological April 14, 2021The Melbourne state government is calling for a new business case for the contentious East West Link infrastructure project, ...
- Victorian Liberals promise to revive controversial East West Link April 14, 2021Six years after Dan Andrews tore up the contract, the Victorian Liberals have recommitted to building the controversial East West Link.